Dictionary Definitions of Joggling

I found this entry in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary a bit troubling. According to them the term joggle means “to shake slightly” or “to move shakily or jerkily”. That’s not right! There’s nothing shaky about joggling. In fact, it’s a smooth fluid motion as you can see from any of these joggling videos.

That got me wondering whether any of the other dictionaries had it right. Here’s what you find.

Dictionary.com : They cover five different dictionaries including the Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary, Wordnet, Random House Dictionary, and the American Heritage Dictionary. None of these entries involve juggling while running. There are 10 similar definitions however.

–verb (used with object)
1. to shake slightly; move to and fro, as by repeated jerks; jiggle:
2. to cause to shake or totter as by a sudden, slight push; jostle.
3. to join or fasten by fitting a projection into a recess.
4. to fit or fasten with dowels.
–verb (used without object)
5. to move irregularly; have a jogging or jolting motion; shake.
–noun
6. the act of joggling.
7. a slight shake or jolt.
8. a moving with jolts or jerks.
9. a projection on one of two joining objects fitting into a corresponding recess in the other to prevent slipping.
10. Carpentry. an enlarged area, as of a post or king post, for supporting the foot of a strut, brace, etc.

They do state that the word originated around 1505-1515. Who knew it was so old?

The Free Dictionary by Farlex lists joggling as “to shake or jar slightly”

The great Cambridge dictionary says joggling means “to shake or move someone or something up and down in a gentle way”. I guess this is closer to the meaning of joggling because you do move the bean bags up and down.

Even YourDictionary.com the (supposed) last word in words lists joggling as a verb that means “to shake or jolt slightly”.

Ah ha! Success! If you look at the dictionary at Allwords.com they’ve nailed it. Joggling: The sport of juggle, juggling while jogging.

Then the Wiktionary has it right too. Joggling: The sport of juggling while jogging.

Of course, Wikipedia has it right too. Though the entry could be a bit better written.

But that’s it. Mostly dictionaries get the definition for joggling wrong. Even the three that got it right are not exactly what I would put. Joggling is not juggling while jogging. It’s actually juggling while running.

All of which means that we’ve got some work to do to get the proper definition of joggling out into the world lexicon. So, here’s my attempt.

Joggling: The action of juggling while running.

Now, enough talking about joggling. Go out and do some.